My Disfigured Duke Husband Helps Me Plot My Revenge
Chapter 110: Protective

Chapter 110: Protective

Desmond’s jaw clenched, but he managed to utter a "Good morning, Your Highness" before the hostility from the night before could return. The duke knew he was in the wrong and had to be on his best behavior. Stephano was holding such a great secret over his head.

"You’re quite energetic for someone who took their breakfast in their room this morning," Leonor uttered and took one last bite of her food before standing up, feeling bad she was sitting while the king was standing.

Desmond seemed to have different sentiments and remained seated.

"You’ve been under his enchantment before?" Desmond asked.

He could connect the dots and understand why, but he didn’t want to make more assumptions. It got him into trouble before.

"I was hurt and he used his magic to help me," she admitted, a bit standoffish.

She wondered why Stephano insisted on stirring up old feelings, not realizing it was his ploy to push the two of them together.

Desmond realized he was asking for her honesty when he wouldn’t give her as such.

"Then I suppose I should finish work and see about joining the two of you later on," he said, returning the standoffish tone and standing up. Without another word, he left the dining hall even though he had only downed about half his breakfast.

His behavior was far different from before and Leonor went after him.

"One moment, please," she said to Stephano and followed her husband out the door.

Even though the door didn’t shut behind them, she still reached out before the duke could escape completely. Her right hand met his left and he turned to see what she needed.

"He’s antagonizing me a bit," Leonor admitted quietly enough that Stephano couldn’t hear them. "He doesn’t mean anything by it. This is just the sort of relationship we have."

She pulled her husband towards a wall so they would be off to the side and out of anyone’s way. Even though having him close made her nervous, she felt more open to bearing her heart to him little by little.

"In the past, I was hurt by my father because I disobeyed him," she confessed, except her eyes were downcast and looking at the large hand she held. "His majesty was a prince then but he taught me about mana by taking away my pain. That time of my life, I prefer not to talk about. I swear I’m not trying to hide anything from you."

In Leonor’s wildest imagination, she couldn’t imagine Desmond being jealous. However, she saw him retreat because she wouldn’t tell him anything. After the instance where she confessed to being in love with another, she imagined he thought that’s what it must be about.

While Valerio was the reason she was harmed at that time, the situation wasn’t about him when Stephano said he would help her get into the Academy. It was so much beyond only him. She was fighting for her very life and Stephano gave her an out.

The scales were imbalanced, Desmond realized. Even if she only told him half-truths, it was more than what he was willing to tell her. He knew he had to change that or the king would take that power away from him.

"I understand," Desmond said and he gently squeezed her small hand in his, offering nonverbal support in the form of touch. It was so rare between them that he went slowly and relished for a little longer before he would have to go. "Please also understand that if your father ever hurt you again, I would end his life."

Leonor looked up at her husband, shocked by his words and only able to see the frown on his face. It reminded her so much of Valerio’s frown she realized having Stephano around was reigniting memories within her.

"I’m not one of the noblemen who would consider their wives their property," he explained quietly, though his rough voice was deeper as he spoke in a threatening tone not meant for her. "But the courts wouldn’t hold me accountable for killing that man if he harmed what’s mine."

She let go of his hand and he thought he had said too much.

However, she was trying to pacify her beating heart.

It felt like there was another beating heart reaching out to hers for the first time in a long time and she was petrified. Stuck between two people was something she never wanted to face.

For once, she didn’t ask permission to hug him. She gained the courage to lean into him and accept his protection in the form of her arms around his taut midsection.

She felt like crying. He said he was hers and it felt like the first time in her life she was in the possession of someone she trusted.

Her father abused his power over her and Valerio never truly had her in the way she wanted him to. Desmond was the first to possess her for the world to see and she was terrified at how her heart was reacting to such a thing.

She was teetering on the edge of throwing caution to the wind and telling him everything in her heart. The thought of him rejecting her and keeping her miserably at arm’s length again was all that stopped her.

His strong arms were around her. This man who was her person hugged her and she wished what he was communicating was based on love and not only possession.

An "ahem" was heard from the doorway of the dining hall and the two pulled away from one another quickly, as if what they were doing was completely inappropriate despite the fact that they were married.

Leonor was transported to the time Stephano caught her and Valerio kissing. The similarities were too much to bear and she put a hand on her forehead.

"Then I will see you later," Leonor said to Desmond who had already hidden his face from her by turning to the side.

"Yes, you will," he assured her. "Stay safe."

She gave a confused smile but he was already walking down the hallway. He acted as if the king was a danger to her.

"If you’re ready, then we should go, Your Highness," Leonor said to the king as she appeared at the threshold of the dining hall.

Stephano scrutinized her with narrowed eyes from head to toe as if he was expecting the disheveled appearance of someone who had just gotten out of a passionate embrace with their lover.

She scoffed at him and walked down the hallway towards the front of the large estate. He caught her once before in such a manner. He would never have the opportunity to do that again... she hoped.